World Wide Stitch in Public Day

Tomorrow is World Wide Stitch in Public Day. I often knit and/or crochet in public. Many groups are knitting at parks, recreation centers, libraries and other public spaces this Saturday and next Saturday.

Knitting Picnic, 1929 - Shetland Museum Archives, Scotland

Description from the website:

World Wide Knit in Public Day was started in 2005 by Danielle Landes. It began as a way for knitters to come together and enjoy each other’s company. Knitting is such a solitary act that it’s easy to knit alone somewhere and sink into your work without thinking about all the other knitters out there. Neighbors could spend all their lives never knowing that the other knits. This a specific day to get out of your house and go to a local event (with your knitting in tow) just for you and people like you. Who knows you might even bump into your neighbor! Consider this a spark, to ignite a fire; getting all of the closeted knitters out into fresh air.

1939, Shetland Museum Archives, Scotland

WWKiP Day is unique, in that it's the largest knitter run event in the world. Each local event is put together by a volunteer or a group of volunteers. They each organize an event because they want to, not because they have to. They bring their own fresh ideas into planning where the event should be held, and what people would like to do. If it weren't for these volunteer hosts, WWKiP Day would still just be an idea. So when you go to your local event, make sure you thank your host(s) and if you're inclined, bring along some yummy treats to share.
In the past some people have used this event as a means to show the general public that ‘not only grannies knit!’ and while that’s great and all, keep in mind that without those ‘grannies’ we wouldn’t have the wealth of knitting knowledge that we do.
WWKiP Day is really about showing the general public that knitting can be a community activity in a very distinct way. In some places there are many different knitting groups that never interact with each other, on WWKiP Day they come together in one place, making them hard to miss.
2005 there were about 25 local events around the world. In 2006 there were about 70 local events. 2007 there were almost 200. In 2008 there were 800 events, and in 2009 there were 751.
Over the years there have been local events in Australia, China, England, Finland, France, Ireland, Norway, South Africa, Sweden, United States… and so many more countries.
WWKiP Day takes now takes place on the second Saturday of June each year.

I will be participating with two groups this coming Saturday. The West Hollywood Stitch 'n Bitch will be at the Original Farmers Market, 3rd and Fairfax, L.A. from 10 am to noon, in the upstairs dining area, above Kip's Toyland. We always have a fine time. There will be refreshments!

Later in the afternoon, from 3-5pm I'll be at The Coffee Bean, 3150 Ocean Park Ave., Santa Monica with the Ocean Park Fiber Artists.

I hope you can join us for one of these fun events commemorating World Wide Stitch in Public Day!